Almost right in Ju Jese and Jérôme. Peel's conversation coincided with a meeting in Montgomery, Alabama, United States, where representatives from the southern states of South Carolina, Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana and Texas were convening a meeting that would decide the future and fate of the United States of America. It was one month and four days earlier than the historic "Montgomery Constitutional Convention", and there was one more delegate to the meeting. Houston, Sam, who has a premonition of the South's defeat in history. Houston, who had been a staunch opponent of Southern independence, was not invited to the conference. And in this time and space, Houston's opposition to Southern independence was not so high, so it appeared at Montgomery's venue.

Moreover, this elderly hero of the Mexican-American War, the first president of the Republic of Texas, and the current governor of Texas was the first to make an impassioned speech in this solemn place.

"Gentlemen, representatives of the American South, I, Sam. Houston understands how you're feeling at the moment. This time, the responsibility is not in our south, we have abolished slavery, and we have given a large piece of free land to the blacks, and now the suffering in the free zone has nothing to do with us, and we are not obliged to bankrupt the blacks in the free zone, because they are not Americans at all! So the fault is not with us, but in the North, because of the greed of the Northerners and Lincoln's extremely erroneous position. Drove the entire American South to the point where it had to take up arms. And I also know that behind us there is the most powerful empire in the world. Both the Ming Empire and the French Empire supported us. Even at the expense of force. So, most likely we can succeed in splitting the United States of America in two!

But here, again, I appeal to you, plead with you, please save America, save the Union! We can take up arms...... Yes. I support that! Also willing to lead the Texas militia to fight!

But our enemies can only be the black-hearted capitalists of the north and the ruthless and unrighteous Abraham. Lincoln, not the United States of America! Because the United States is our motherland! She is innocent, she is unique, she is the most beautiful, the most magnificent, the most promising country in the world. If we had declared independence here today, then we would have lost her forever, the United States, a great Motherland, and there would never have been such a country again. It's true. When you realize the consequences of losing your motherland, you will be irreparable. The United States will not come back. We will lose her forever, forever. We will have no shame in the face of our children and grandchildren, who will ask us: why divide the United States, why take away the strong, prosperous, great United States of America that belongs to them! Why take away the happiness that should belong to them! ”

When the old man said this, he couldn't stop crying. The other representatives present were all pale, why did they want to split the Federation? Haven't you been cornered by the high tariff policy of the north?

Although the North and South of the United States are one country, they belong to two economic circles. The North is self-contained, independent of the British-led global economic system (the Greater China Economic Zone is actually self-contained due to the high cost of shipping, which is why the Ming Dynasty's industrialization process will be so smooth), but the market in the northern United States is too narrow to support American industrialization. However, the southern part of the United States is integrated into the economic circle dominated by Britain, exporting cotton and tobacco, and buying industrial products from Europe, so it has always hoped to implement low or even zero tariffs. Now that the federal government is proposing a 45% tariff, it is simply the life of the farmers in the southern part of the United States, so independence is the desire of the people in the south. Of course, these political figures in the south can only support independence.

As for Sam. Hughes's proposal to only fight Lincoln and not oppose the Union is of course politically correct, but what to do is absolutely a dead end! Because if the south does not fight for independence, why should the Ming Dynasty and France support it? It is clear that they want to engage in two or even three Americans! If the South still insists on an America, just wait for Lincoln to be exterminated, and then go to the gallows together!

There was silence for a long time before the emaciated Mississippi delegate Jefferson was heard. Davis sighed and said softly, "Sam, don't you understand that by now, there is no way for us in the south to turn back!" ”

By Jefferson. Davis said so, Sam. Houston sat down slowly, and said in an inaudible voice, as if to himself, "Do you know what it means to divide the Union?" Do you know what the American people will lose......"

Just Sam. When Houston was talking to himself, the representative of Georgia, Alexander, who was thinner than Davis. Stephens sat there and said in a deep voice, "None of us want to get to this point, but what can we do?" Our people have taken up arms, and if we don't come out and lead them, there will be others who will do the same...... They don't realize the preciousness of the Federation! In the same way, the people of the North do not know this, they only think of higher wages, higher profits, and a richer life, and for this reason they do not hesitate to exploit their compatriots in the South as Indians! If the Federation survives this war, I think she will really mature and truly become a great nation! If the federal ...... If we can't survive, then we Americans deserve to be unlucky. This is our fate, it is God who is punishing us, and our happiness comes too easily to know how to cherish it, so it angers God. ”

This remark immediately resonated with the delegates. Houston took a deep breath and seemed to be about to say something, when Davis's secretary suddenly walked in quickly, came to Davis's side, and whispered something. Then I saw Jefferson. Davis's face changed dramatically, and he stood up suddenly, "Lincoln has just met with President Cambunan and strongly demanded that he take strong measures to stop the division of the South, and also demanded that the Union troops be mobilized immediately, and that the states that support the Union send troops for the use of the Union, and he hopes that at least 200,000 Union troops can be recruited and equipped by the end of March......"

Lincoln was elected president of the United States, but he had not yet been sworn in, and he would not actually take over the presidency until March 4, 1861. However, he could not wait to ask the outgoing President Cambunan to recruit troops, apparently preparing to use force against the south as soon as he took over!

Another representative of Georgia, Robert. Toombs had already jumped to his feet and shouted, "Gentlemen, the enemy's butcher's knife will soon be raised!" Please don't hesitate any longer and support the establishment of the Confederate States of America! ”

The echoing voice below immediately rang out.

"South Carolina Support Coalition!"

"Mississippi supports the Confederate State!"

"Florida and the Union live and die together!"

"Alabama also supports the Coalition!"

"Louisiana also agreed to join the Confederate States, long live the Confederate States of America!"

Now, all eyes are on Sam. Houston, the representative of Texas has not yet taken a position! This state was brave in the Mexican-American War, and it was one of the most capable states in the South, and the relationship between Texas and Lincoln was very bad, because the future president of the United States was a congressman in the Mexican-American War, and he was also one of the few anti-war congressmen, questioning in Congress all day long, so the people of Texas did not like him.

"Texas ...... Also joined the Union State. "Sam. Houston stood up again and said something that made him feel terrible. "However, I am not in favor of settling disputes by force, and although we have formed a Union State, it does not mean that we are going to fight the Federation. We are both Americans, there is no need and should not go to war, and I am willing to go to Washington, to meet with Lincoln and the Republican representatives, to do a final effort, and I hope you can give me that authorization. ”

The Southern delegates present looked at the old hero with some sympathy, they knew how much he loved the United States, but ...... There is no turning back! (To be continued......)